This summer, PSR highlights some of the area's top returning quarterbacks at several schools across the city. We'll take a look at four signal-callers poised for big seasons in 2021 after starting for their squads in 2020.
Holden Geriner is truly the first of his kind when it comes to Savannah high school quarterback history. The Benedictine rising senior will likely become the first Savannah high school quarterback to sign a scholarship with a Power Five college program since (at least) 1985 when national magazines and recruiting services first began ranking players.
An Auburn commit, Geriner (179-264 passing, 2,770 yards, 25 TD's, 3 INT in
2020), is set to start behind center for Benedictine and head coach Danny Britt (offensive coordinator AJ DeFilippis) for a third consecutive year. Last year, Geriner and the Cadets (9-3) advanced all the way to the GHSA Class 4A semifinals before falling to Jefferson in the closing seconds in an instant classic at Memorial Stadium.
This year, Geriner says BC is expecting nothing short of another deep championship run. Last season's sour finish has fueled the off-season work for the Cadets.
"I think it's going to be a fun year," Geriner said in a phone call with the Prep Sports Report on June 13. "We still have that reminder of what happened last year in the backs of our heads. Just realizing how close we were (to the state championship game) and everything. It made us realize what it takes this year."
In 24 career games at BC, Geriner has thrown for 4,183 yards and 39 touchdowns. He has rushed for seven scores.
Geriner won't have the services of departed star wide receiver Trent Broadnax this season, but there's plenty of help returning to help the future Tiger on the offensive side of the ball in 2021.
Justin Thomas, a University of Georgia baseball commit, is likely one of the leading competitors to Geriner for area Player of the Year honors this season. Also back for the BC offense (38.9 points per game in 2020) will be Zaquan Bryan and Kam Edge and the addition of first-year varsity receiver La'don Bryant (Sophomore).
Thomas had 1,963 all-purpose yards last season. He rushed for 651 yards and 14 touchdowns while catching 35 passes for 693 yards and seven more scores. As a defensive back, he intercepted a team-high five passes in 2020.
Geriner says his attention is "100-percent on BC" this summer as he heads into his senior year before leaving for The Plains in Auburn. When asked for some of his season goals in his last go-round, Geriner had but one.
"I'm just trying to win a state championship," he said. "That's it. That's everything for me."
Benedictine will open its season on the road against Burke County (Aug. 20) before playing host to Christopher Columbus Miami (Aug. 27) in a marquee out-of-state matchup with one of South Florida's premium private school programs. CC Miami won Florida's Class 6A State Championship in 2019.
You can follow Geriner on Twitter — @HoldenGeriner.
Follow Travis on Twitter/Instagram @JaudonSports. Contact him at travisLjaudon@gmail.com.
Optim Orthopedics supports Benedictine Military Schooll athletics. Benedictine Military School's team doctor is Dr. David Sedory. Remember, Optim Orthopedics gets you back into the game!
Story Photo - Spicer's Snapshots
Auburn Photo - Holden Geriner Instagram
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